UFC News - Page 28

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The UFC will hold at least five events in Las Vegas in 2018, including four pay-per-view cards.
MMA Fighting has learned the dates for five events next year, including the year-end UFC 232 event on Dec. 29.

Pietro Menga’s UFC run is over before it started.
The 29-year-old Englishman received his walking papers from the organization less than two weeks after what was supposed to be his debut with the company. Booked as a short-notice replacement for an injured Justin Scoggins opposite one-time flyweight title challenger Tim Elliott at UFC on FOX 26, Menga was unable to make the 125-pound limit and he was told by a doctor to stop cutting weight prior to the weigh-ins, which led to the cancellation of his first Octagon opportunity.
Menga told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that he learned of his release during the holiday season.

Making flyweight is not the only obstacle ahead for Carls John de Tomas.
The fighter failed a USADA drug test in relation to UFC Fresno earlier this month and is facing a UFC anti-doping policy violation, the UFC announced Friday. De Tomas failed an in-competition test following his weigh-in and is facing sanctions from both USADA and the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), pending an adjudication process.
The release stated that de Tomas is no longer under UFC contract.

One of the top strawweights in the world will make her UFC debut in February.
Livia Renata Souza is set to take on Jessica Aguilar at the UFC Austin card on Feb. 18 in Texas, multiple sources confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report by Combate.

Ask and you shall receive.
A marquee middleweight matchup between Yoel Romero and former World Series of Fighting two-division champion David Branch has been slated for Feb. 24 at UFC on FOX 28. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani confirmed the news Friday afternoon following an initial report by The Orlando Sentinel.

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) wants four fighters to move up a weight class after competing at UFC Fresno earlier this month.
UFC bantamweight star Marlon Moraes and three others were flagged by CSAC doctors after weighing in on fight day well over the commission regulations of staying within 10 percent of the contracted weight, per a document obtained Friday by MMA Fighting.
Iuri Alcantara, Davi Ramos and Luke Sanders were the three other fighters recommended to move up. CSAC will not license the four fighters at their current weight classes in the future “without extensive medical documentation from a licensed physician certifying the weight class is appropriate and verified by CSAC physicians.”

Longtime color commentator Jimmy Smith will no longer announce fights for Bellator MMA.
A press released issued by the company on Thursday announced that the company and the popular announcer “have mutually agreed to part ways.” The release did not give a reason for the decision.
Additionally, sources tell MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that Chael Sonnen will be a frequent presence in Bellator’s announce booth, and Frank Mir, who earned plaudits several years ago for his work as a WEC color commentator, is also expected to be in the mix.

Even though Conor McGregor has given no indication of when he plans to fight again, UFC president Dana White is optimistic that the company’s biggest star will be back in 2018.
McGregor was last seen making his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in August. The fight did not go the Irishman’s way, but McGregor was paid a handsome sum of $30 million for the crossover bout and his earnings were expected to approach the nine-figure mark once a number of other factors were taken into consideration.
That has left “The Notorious” in the enviable position of calling his own shots on his own time and White hopes that McGregor decides he still wants to compete soon.

The last time Dana White said something with Floyd Mayweather wasn’t going to happen, it eventually led to one of the most lucrative bouts in combat sports history.
White isn’t taking any chances now when it comes to the recent discussion of Mayweather possibly working with the UFC in some capacity. The two raised eyebrows last week when White said his promotion was “interested in doing something with Floyd” after Mayweather himself teased the possibility of competing inside the Octagon. The superstar pugilist defeated UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a highly-publicized boxing match in August.
However, Mayweather subsequently dismissed the idea as something that he could do, not necessarily something that he would do.
The rumor does not appear to be completely dead just yet. White appeared on FOX Sports’ Undisputed program on Thursday and according to the UFC president, he’s still engaged in talks with Mayweather’s people.

A pair of veteran heavyweights, including a former champion, have been booked to fight in March.
Former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will take on Stefan Struve at UFC 222. UFC officials announced the new booking today.

Is Georges St-Pierre’s alleged “master plan” to fight Conor McGregor currently in motion? If so, it sounds like UFC President Dana White is ready to put an end to it.
Back in March, it was Michael Bisping who claimed St-Pierre was scheming to beat him for the middleweight title, drop the belt and ultimately land a super fight with McGregor in an attempt to win a UFC title in a third division. The first two parts are complete, with St-Pierre submitting then-champion Bisping last month at UFC 217. One month later, St-Pierre vacated the title, leaving doubt about his fighting future.
But if it’s McGregor who St-Pierre hopes to eventually fight, White has a stern response.

A key strawweight bout between Jessica Andrade and Tecia Torres is the latest addition to February’s UFC on FOX 28 lineup.
UFC officials today announced the bout between Andrade (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Torres (10-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) via Orlando Sentinel.
UFC on FOX 28 takes place Feb. 24 at Amway Center in Orlando. The event airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, though the bout order hasn’t been finalized.

Big announcements could be on their way.
UFC 219 is already looking to be a pretty big event, headlined by Cris Cyborg vs. Holly Holm and Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barbosa. But there may be even more stars from the promotion headed to Las Vegas for a surprise media event.
According to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, the UFC is planning another big press conference in the style of their 'The Time Is Now' and 'Summer Kickoff' pressers.

A popular veteran with a long-established reputation for exciting scraps will tangle with a competitor fresh off one of 2017’s most exciting bouts.
A welterweight match between Donald Cerrone and Yancy Medeiros is all but official for the UFC Austin main event on Feb. 18, sources told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani on Tuesday.